A/N Hey Everyone, my name's Megan, and all of the characters here belong to SM, but the plot came from the recesses of my mind. I'd love to hear your feedback on what you think. Enjoy!
It had been a long time since Rosalie had been home to her family's ranch in Texas, not since that horrific day four years ago, and she wouldn't be going back now if it weren't for her brother. She'd gotten in call from Jasper two days ago, the message he'd left on her machine had been short and to the point. "Rosalie," he'd said in his slow southern drawl "Dad's dying. Doc says it'll be quick. Come home now, Rose." She'd listened to the message twice before making a decision. Her stubborn nature screamed at her to stay away. What good was a father who hadn't stood by her when she'd needed him the most? Would she really be losing anything with his death? The thought of returning to that bumblefuck of a hometown of hers after everything that had happened churned her stomach. In the end, it was the subtle, almost invisible catch in her brother's voice as he spoke her name just before he hung up that decided her. Her brother was to her way of thinking the only thing that mattered in Texas anymore.
Rosalie jolted awake from the gentle hand that fluttered lightly onto her arm. Her violet-blue eyes shot open as she took in her surroundings instantly. When she realized it was Alice's hand on her arm she relaxed her head back into the headrest of the first class seat looking with exhausted eyes to Alice her pixy of an assistant, and her best friend. As always Alice looked perfect, her short black hair was tousled perfectly, and while her outfit wasn't fit for the ranch, it would certainly turn the heads of anyone she passed. Alice's stood at five foot one, but with her bright red stilettos and her hair she could pass for five five. She was slim enough that she could pull off the skin tight black jeans and the flowy red blouse that fit her perfectly.
"Sorry to wake you Rose, but we're just about to start our decent."
Rosalie nodded and rolled her neck peering out the window as she did. The sprawling green of Texas soil rolled out beneath her and she had to tear her eyes away to smile at Alice. But from the way Alice slipped her hand into hers and squeezed gently she knew her brave face might fool everyone else, but not Alice. Alice's clear blue eyes met Rose's and the look they exchanged alone said everything Rosalie needed to hear. She squeezed Alice's hand back and then slowly pulled to fold it back onto her lap.
Alice smiled soothingly before speaking, "so everything is worked out to run smoothly as soon as we land. There is a private rental car paid for and waiting for us at a back exit which we can take to the Ranch. I went ahead and booked a reservation for you under your own name at a spa in Huston to explain our presence in Texas, so we should be okay for a few days as far as the press goes. I wasn't sure if you'd want to stay at the Ranch or not, so I booked some rooms at the Inn nearby under my cousin's name just in case."
As she spoke Rosalie nodded while she placed her sunglasses on her nose and pulled the wide brimmed hat from her bag and set it gently on her head. "Is Edward still sleeping?" She asked referring to the one body guard she'd agreed to take with her back to Hallettsville. Alice nodded before leaning down to kiss Rosalie's cheek quickly before moving back to fasten her own seatbelt for the landing. After the landing, it was about a little over an hours worth of driving before they'd reach the Ranch, and they did most of that in silence. Edward drove the inconspicuous rental car slowly and with deliberation. He and Alice were two of her most loyal employees, and the only friend that she could boast in her lifestyle. She's met both Edward and Alice during her first days in New York City. Alone, beaten, and terrified, she'd arrived in the city with nothing but her bruises and the clothes on her back and that's how they'd found her. Sitting in a disgusting Diner drinking dollar coffee they'd looked like angels floating into the diner with laughter on their lips. Edward had taken her breath away with his copper tousled hair, and stunning green eyes, his body lean but obviously muscled. She'd noticed Alice second, her clothes obviously chosen with immense care, and together with her arm hooked nonchalantly through his, they were almost inhuman.
They'd begun with a simply conversation across the aisle, she'd pretended that the bruises weren't there, and so did they. When they'd come back again the next morning and she was there in the same clothes, they invited her to join them for breakfast, their treat. From there the rest was, as they say, history. Alice and Edward were childhood friends who had each set out for the city with their own goals in mind, knowing only each other. She wanted to be a fashion designer, and he had hoped to make it through his music. They didn't have much, but they welcomed Rosalie to it all.
For the first few weeks, Rosalie focused on healing, both mentally, as well as physically. And Alice and Edward were the best of friends she could have ever hoped to find. They had invited her into their home, fed her, and comforted her, and she had given them the only thing that she had to give at that time in her life… her trust.
It had taken only six months for Rosalie's career to take off. Rosalie might not have been lucky in love, but the beauty that had so captivated her former fiancé went over quite well in the modeling industry. They had loved her bone structure, her hair, her captivating eyes, and while most of the gain she got from the industry was unimportant to her, she loved that she could finally begin to repay the two people who had picked her up when she'd fallen. She had offered them the jobs only until their own careers kicked off, but while Alice's clothing line was thriving, and Edward's music was finally getting heard and preformed by artists around the United States, they chose to stay with her as well. So they worked together, as friends, and partners in almost everything they did, and while they loved their jobs, they all knew that it was their friendship that was what was most important.
"Rose I think we're here." Edward's soft voice roused her from her daydreams and she opened her eyes to look at her childhood home. The Hale Ranch house was a sprawling estate, the main house a huge spotless white house complete with large pillars and a full porch with gardens surrounding it which essentially oozed wealth. Rosalie sighed and then slowly stepped out of the car closing the door silently behind her. Alice and Edward followed suit, walking just a few steps behind her as she made her way toward the house. Out of the corner of her eye Rosalie could just see the rambling pastures where the horses and cattle roamed freely, and the large white barn where Rosalie had truly been happy in her childhood, the same barn where that awful event had happened.
Rosalie sighed and turned her eyes away from not only the barn, but also the memory. She walked up the familiar steps and as her feet lighted on the porch the door opened to reveal a true sight for sore eyes. Jasper stood in the doorway, even with his should slightly hunched he took up most of the doorway with his six foot four frame, well muscled from his hours spent performing hard labor on the Ranch. His blonde hair was a little too long, and his eyes, almost an exact replica of his sister's were bloodshot and he looked so tired it almost broke Rose's heart.
She walked into Jasper's open arms and for a moment allowed him to simply hold her. "How's he doing?" She murmured into his shoulder.
"It won't be long now," Jasper whispered back. "I think you should go in to see him."
Rosalie nodded silently and stepped into the house. When Alice and Edward followed her in, she turned on her heel to face Jasper. "Jasper, these are my closest friends, Mary Alice Brandon, and Edward Mason. This is my brother Jasper."
Alice stepped forward, her little mouth curled into a pretty smile, "Pleasure to meet you Jasper, please, call me Alice."
Jasper nodded and took her extended hand with a slight quirk of his lips. "I'm so happy to meet you Alice, I wish the circumstances were different, but you're more than welcome in our home after everything you've done for my sister." He took her hand and pressed the back of it gently to his lips before releasing it slowly. He turned to Edward and took his hand next, "And you Edward, it's great to meet you, I wanna' thank you for everything, I hope ya'll both know that I've been so excited to meet you."
"Nice to meet you too Jasper, it's great to be here."
Rosalie couldn't hear them though, couldn't really even think clearly, because at that moment she'd caught sight of something that tore her thoughts from her father, and from her friends. Rosalie had met many models in her day, but she had never seen a man who was more attractive than the one that stood in front of her now. Dripping wet with a towel wrapped low around his waist stood a man who she'd never seen before, which was no small feat in Hallettsville. He was huge, not only in that he towered over Jasper, but he also was a wall of muscle with arms almost as big as Rose's waist. His dark brown hair curled messily about his face, and warm brown eyes met hers with a look so lustful that it made her stomach roll. For a moment Rose stood speechless. The man's full perfect lips twisted into a playful, cocky grin just before he spoke.
"Well hello there beautiful. I wasn't expecting you so soon, but I hope you like what you see." His tone was mocking, his eyes laughing at her and she was furious. She knew he was trying to embarrass her for staring, but he was in her home, and instead of the smile she'd been planning for him her lips curled into a defensive sneer.
"Please, I prefer that my men not resemble brutish cavemen, I've a little more class than that." She hated men like that, who thought that there very presence was a gift to those around them, and she just knew he needed to be put in his place.
Before she could blink the grin vanished and was replaced with a straight face. "Well then the rumors are true, I suppose I should curtsey, I've heard so much about the Ice Princess of Hale Ranch." With a mocking fluff of his towel that revealed a firm muscled bit of thigh he brushed past her into the guestroom, closing the door with a firm but quiet click.
